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CAPITAL TA L E S O F T H E C I T Y

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THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A RAP

ISSUE 60

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Love the life you choose At Summerset we put you at the heart of everything we do, so you can enjoy the freedom of living the life you choose. The perfect home is waiting for you. From villas and townhouses, to apartments – you’ll find a place to make your own. Our homes are accessible, high-quality, and there are no worries about maintenance or upkeep as we do it all for you. When it comes to activities and events, there’s always something happening

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If you need some extra care or support, our continuum of care means we’ll be there for you as your needs change, giving you the peace of mind to continue living life to its fullest. Wellington’s newest village in Kenepuru is centrally located in a premium new subdivision, Kenepuru Landing. Close to all local amenities and transport links, this stunning new village will offer convenient modern living in the beautiful Porirua region. The first of these brand new homes will be available in September this year, so get in touch today to find out more.

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CAPITAL

Made in Wellington

CAPITAL TA L E S O F T H E C I T Y

ON THE RUN APRIL 2019

THAT’S A RAP

ISSUE 60

$4.90 AUTUMN THREADS

S U N D AY R O A S T

The wee ke n d issue

his month mother and daughter duo Nikki and Jordan Shearer have provided us with a fresh new look at the Sunday roast, once a staple part of many New Zealanders’ weekends and now more an occasional treat. It is not just food that has changed. The concept of the weekend is being diluted as many people are required to work rosters and shifts that pay no account to specific days of the week. In By the Numbers on page 17, Craig Beardsworth points out that the first recorded mention of the term weekend was in 1879. On another front it is interesting to observe that the French establishment is still fighting (a losing battle) the adoption of the phrase ‘le weekend’ into their national language. Of course the weekend has not been inviolate or fixed here. It has changed and evolved over time. Less than 100 years ago for many people the working week included Saturday morning. In this issue we talk to a number of people about what they do in their down time – which may or may not fall on the weekend. Francesca Emms collated for us the high points of a range of easy-to-get-to destinations. Rapper Abrzy shows how much can be achieved in time off while holed up in your own home. And Bron Eichbaum has styled an autumnal fashion shoot to farewell daylight savings. In case we seem too languid, Sarah Lang talks to high-energy local dancer Lucy Marinkovich, and Sarah Catherall continues the energetic tone with a discussion of walking and running in the green belt. And Ross Stevens shows how he spends his time at home, weekends and all. And much, much more. I look forward to seeing you all again in May.

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C O N TA C T U S Phone +64 4 385 1426 Email editor@capitalmag.co.nz Website www.capitalmag.co.nz Facebook facebook.com/CapitalMagazineWellington Twitter @CapitalMagWelly Instagram @capitalmag Post Box 9202, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Deliveries 31–41 Pirie St, Mt Victoria, Wellington, 6011 ISSN 2324-4836 Produced by Capital Publishing Ltd

PRINTED IN WELLINGTON

Alison Franks Editor

This publication uses vegetable based inks, and FSC® certified papers produced from responsible sources, manufactured under ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems

The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Although all material is checked for accuracy, no liability is assumed by the publisher for any losses due to the use of material in this magazine. Copyright ©. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of Capital Publishing Ltd.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Staff Managing editor Alison Franks

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

editor@capitalmag.co.nz

Campaign coordinators Haleigh Trower haleigh@capitalmag.co.nz Josephine Gallagher josephine@capitalmag.co.nz Lauren Andersen lauren@capitalmag.co.nz Lauren Edwards laurenedwards@capitalmag.co.nz Lyndsey O'Reilly lyndsey@capitalmag.co.nz General factotum John Bristed

john@capitalmag.co.nz

Art director Shalee Fitzsimmons shalee@capitalmag.co.nz Designer Luke Browne

design@capitalmag.co.nz

Writer Francesca Emms

journalism@capitalmag.co.nz

Editorial assistant Leilani Baker

hello@capitalmag.co.nz

Accounts Tod Harfield

accounts@capitalmag.co.nz

DAV I D JA M E S Ph oto g r aph er David James aka Marlborough Lights is a photographer from Marlborough though he calls Wellington his spiritual home. He regularly shoots fashion for retail and labels like Lela Jacobs and The Service Depot. Emotional images come first for David, who prefers a fun, energetic and low-fuss aesthetic.

M E L O DY T HOM A S Journ a li st Melody is a writer, columnist and producer for radio who uses her work to offset terrible FOMO, or Fear Of Missing Out. Writing for Capital provides just the excuse she needs to pry, consider and explore the world vicariously, all from her little window desk in Island Bay. Catch up with Melody between issues on Twitter @WriteByMelody.

Stockists Pick up your Capital in New World, Countdown and Pakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Save supermarkets, Moore Wilson's, Unity Books, Commonsense Organics, Magnetix, City Cards & Mags, Take Note, Whitcoulls, Wellington Airport, Interislander and other discerning region-wide outlets. Ask for Capital magazine by name. Distribution: john@capitalmag.co.nz.

Submissions We welcome freelance art, photo and story submissions. However we cannot reply personally to unsuccessful pitches.

S A N N E VA N G I N K E L Ph oto g r aph er Sanne is originally from The Netherlands, but moved to Wellington to continue her passion for creativity. She is now studying towards her Masters in Design, majoring in Photography at Massey University whilst running her company In the Flash Photography.

D E I R D R E TA R R A N T Wel ly Angel Deirdre Tarrant, mother of three boys, founder of the former Footnote Dance Company and teacher of dance to generations of Wellingtonians will sort out your troubles as our Agony Aunt.

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CONTENTS

10 LETTERS 12 CHATTER 14 NEWS BRIEFS 17 BY THE NUMBERS 18 NEW PRODUCTS 20 TALES OF THE CITY 22 CULTURE

ON THE BEATEN TRACK

GREEN GEMS

Destination pit-stops for weekend travels

Traverse the region in run fell swoop

BIRTHDAY BITES

MELODIC MIGRATION

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re six years old

Accountant by day, rapper by night

PERPETUAL MOTION Choreographer Lucy Marinkovich and her forward movements

30 38

OVER THE RAINBOW TIGHT UNIT

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CONTENTS

DAY L I G H T R AV I N G S

OFF CUTS AND SECONDS

Wind the clock back with autumnal fashion

Rejected items made new in Ross Steven's Wairarapa home

FASHION BRIEFS

65 BY THE BOOK 67 RE-VERSE

55 WIND OW SHOPPING

Playful pieces picked by a potter

MUSH APPRECIATION Fungi in Ohau

60 EDIBLES

BUG ME The cheeky wētā

62 SHEARERS' TABLE Spanish roasted duckling with harissa potatoes

76 GOOD SPORT 79 WĀHINE 81 WELLY ANGEL 82 CALENDAR 84 GROUPIES

STOP STOPATAT

MODERN MODERNASIAN ASIAN HAWKER HAWKERFOOD FOOD

LETTERS

KNOW YOUR BUTCHER

FASHION BREAK Thank you, thank you, thank you I loved the new fashion feature in the last issue. Two of Yoshino Maruyama’s wardrobe picks made my day − and I’ve been scanning the streets for sight of those game enough to wear either of them. Marge Simpson would be thrilled to own the straw hat and, quite frankly, the Tabi boots should be a Wellington staple. They really do help the feet grip when the going gets rough. I can’t comprehend how you will top these. Cathy Ellis, Mt Victoria TRANSPORT OPTIONS The commentary you have been providing on the transport problems and options facing Wellington have made for interesting reading. I appreciated the different views from your columnists (Cap #57, 59) and the lengthy letters in response. This should be an important election issue prior to this year’s local body elections. A Adams, Wellington ON THE FENCE Clearly Capital has already chosen a side in the Light Rail debate. There are many people happy to write the other side of the story – as printed, abridged, in your letters section – yet the only opinions ‘featured’ are those who are anti-light rail. Do better. H B Peters, Wellington

YOUR FOOD

On the contrary, we are interested in opinions from both sides. Capital did not exercise any editorial direction over the opinions published. Ed. RABID ENTHUSIASM I’m really enjoying the opinion pieces you have been publishing about various transport issues. Particularly those about Light Rail. Thank you for choosing to engage with researchers, rather than rabid Light Rail enthusiasts. I look forward to more, especially as the fight for logical public transport will no doubt ramp up later this year. Joe, Hutt Valley (name and address supplied) PHOTO GRAPHY SPECIAL I am a weekend cyclist and your Marlborough cycling story (Cap #59) interested me. The photos used are superb. I had no idea the area had developed so much, as a specialist food producer. I commute regularly between Auckland and Wellington and if I thought about it at all, thought it was just grapes and traditional farming still happening in the region. I’m intrigued now. Thanks. S Tyler, Auckland (name and address supplied)

Buy in-store or online

Send letters to editor@captalmag.co.nz with the subject line Letters to Ed

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RD E R S E C TCI H OA N THT EE A

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GENDER NEUTRAL A Wellyworder overheard two young brothers who got into a fight while standing beside the lit terracotta warriors outside Te Papa. ‘There’s a girl warrior!’ said the first. ‘Girls can’t be warriors,’ said the second. ‘Then why has he got boobs?’ reasoned the first. FRESHERS It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. First-years were spotted snoozing on their subway sandwiches, Establishment collected more than 30 lost ID cards in one night, and Courtenay Place rang with the shrieks of 18-year-olds let loose on our fair city. Of all the colourful things overheard by

Wellyworders during O-Week, the only one mild enough to print was a fresher telling her boyfriend to ‘stop with the cute shit.’ Q&A At a pre-show ballet talk, a Wellyworder and their companion had agreed to make a break for it when the floor was opened up for questions. They couldn’t stand sitting through the inevitable long winded grandstanding comments that ‘any questions?’ regularly invites. As the end of the talk drew nigh they realised they were boxed in and wouldn’t be able to escape. But then the most shocking thing happened – every single ‘question’ from the audience was actually a question!

QUINN NERUDA ZINZ AN DAVIS Art or Rebellion? I went to a fairly strict all-boys school, so I'd be lying if I said it didn't start off as rebellion. That being said, I come from a very liberal family where tattoos have always been celebrated. I'd say it's a 50/50 cocktail of art and rebellion. Family – for it or against it? The earliest memory I have of a tattoo is seeing some native NZ foliage plastered on my dad's shoulder. Rumour has it, it covers a weed leaf from his early days. He refuses to confirm this. Safe to say my family is not averse to tattoos.

Two Art in motion Despite the driving rain, Parking Day went ahead last month. The winner of the Judges Choice award was Occupation: Artist, a collective of artistic Wellington women. For their work, called Detour, they dressed in white coveralls

Any regrets? No regrets! I think there was a time after I got my first two or three where I thought shit, is this really what I want for the rest of my life. Ever since the first few, I’ve never thought like that again. I love all my tattoos and will keep them coming!

and kept 160 traffic cones in constant movement throughout the day. Wellington Sculpture Trust, who run the annual event, said, ‘These cones really glowed in the atrocious weather, creating a striking installation.’

S E C TCIH OANT H ADER TER

F i ve

Name game The fight about Victoria University of Wellington’s name change may not be over. After the university council’s application to change to ‘University of Wellington’ was vetoed by Education Minister Chris Hipkins late last year, some 10,000 signatories of a petition opposing the change breathed a sigh of relief. In the latest twist, two senior lawyers claim that Hipkins’ decision to reject the change may have

been unlawful. However, Hugh Rennie QC says he sees ‘little prospect of a legal challenge succeeding,’ adding that if a challenge were made it would likely take years and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The next step for the university is unclear, though name suggestions from the public have been tossed about. Let’s hope they don't go for 'University of Wellywood'.

Three First of firsts High-end instant coffee? Apparently it’s taking off around the world. Instant coffee is actually a New Zealand invention, patented by David Strang of Invercargill in 1890. Coffee Supreme is the first roaster to offer it in New Zealand and the first specialty coffee roaster in the world to independently produce its own. Wellingtonians were the first to try Coffee Supreme Instant when it launched last month at Drunken Octopus

on Marion St. The thought of instant doesn’t usually appeal to our fine-tuned coffee palates, but Supreme promise it’s the next best thing to real coffee. ‘If you’re camping, on a plane or rifling through the pantry at a bach, we think you should still be able to have a delicious coffee. And that’s what our Instant is: the best coffee when you can’t have the best coffee,’ says Coffee Supreme CEO Al Keating.

Six Pick me Wellington’s Play Station is heading to the Auckland Art Fair next month for Piki Mai: Up Here ^^, which showcases young galleries and artist-run spaces. Director of the fair, Stephanie Post, says Piki Mai will show the

Four

Eggs-citing Over Easter weekend Zealandia Ecosanctuary is running its annual Egg-cellent Easter Adventure where kids go free. Each hunter will be given a special map to record the educational clues they find hidden in the sanctuary. When they bring back their map they can swap it for a chocolatey Whittaker’s treat.

work of exceptional emerging artists, and offer a snapshot of artists whose work might appear at future art fairs. Other Wellington galleries attending the fair include Page Blackie Gallery, Suite, Millers O’Brien and Bartley + Company.

IT'S COOL TO KORERO E aha ana koe a ngā rangi okioki nei?

What are you up to this weekend?

NEWS BRIEFS

BUILDING BRIDGES Following the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, the French government set up the New Zealand France Friendship Fund in 1991 to strengthen ties between the countries (translation: to say sorry). The Friendship Fund has since provided $5 million in grants to New Zealand, French and French-Pacific projects. The fund recently gave $300,000 to the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship (which sends a New Zealand writer to France annually). The Friendship Fund is now winding up as all the money’s been spent (and we’re all friends again).

P R I Z E TA L K E R

GOOD LEGS

B R E AT H E E A SY

Professor James Renwick has won the 2018 Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize. The climate scientist and head of Victoria University’s School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences won the $100,000 prize for his ‘outstanding’ communication about the science behind our changing climate and how it will affect the future. He has been involved in more than 100 public presentations, 200 media interviews, and numerous conferences. Judges described him as communicating with warmth, humour, and positivity, while being clear about the seriousness of the issue.

A new approach has reduced the average healing time of venous leg ulcers to 24 weeks from 33 weeks in 2016. ‘Leg ulceration can be a debilitating and very painful condition that can be complex and difficult to treat,’ says nurse specialist Natalie Scott. The new model includes early assessment and intervention, better educating patients and nurses, and having a team of specialist nurses working in advanced wound care in the Wellington, Kenepuru and Kapiti Community Health Service. Natalie says Maori and Pasifika patients tend to develop leg ulcers earlier than European patients, ‘which needs further investigation.’

All Wellington City beaches will be smokefree next summer. Last month Wellington city councillors added the city’s beaches and the Grey Street pedestrian area to the Capital’s smokefree areas. Areas already smokefree in Wellington City are playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields, bus stops, Waitangi, Midland and Truby King parks, the Botanic Garden, Otari-Wilton’s Bush, Bolton Street Cemetery, Te Ngākau Civic Square, the Zoo and Zealandia, and the entrances to all Council buildings including libraries and swimming pools.

NEWS BRIEFS

HEART F E LT Porirua’s city centre is now called Te Manawa (the heart). The name, gifted by Ngāti Toa Rangatira, marks improvements to the area including new paving, seating, planting, lighting and playground. Mayor Mike Tana says Te Manawa means a central place where many people gather, and their hearts beat as one. ‘The name reflects our vision of a city centre that is the vibrant heart of our community.’ It’s a popular name. Palmerston North’s Museum is called Te Manawa, as are a number of support services.

MURKY MERGE A survey of more than 920 employers from around New Zealand, including a sample in Wellington, found that employers’ confidence in the Government proposal to merge polytechs into one national body was so low that almost two thirds (63%) said they will either stop hiring apprentices or take on fewer apprentices. Garry Fissenden, CEO of The Skills Organisation, which represents 22 industries, 4,400 employers and over 10,000 apprentices, says it is clear the Government has underestimated the likely impact of the changes.

THREE TIMES A C OU N C I L L O R Titahi Bay resident ‘Ana Coffey has announced she will be running for mayor this year. She has nine years’ relevant experience, having served three terms as a Porirua City councillor, including a term as deputy mayor. If successful, she will be the city's first Pasifika mayor. Porirua City Council has the most diverse representation in New Zealand with five women elected, three of whom are Pasifika or Māori.

LITTLE BIRD New Zealand’s smallest bird is now in Wellington city. Around 60 tītipounamu (rifleman) were moved to Zealandia ecosanctuary last month. This will help conserve tītipounamu across the region, by establishing a population that’s safe-guarded from introduced predators. ‘Hopefully, all going well, within a few years we'll see them spilling beyond the Zealandia fence,’ says Dr Danielle Shanahan, Director of the Centre for People and Nature at Zealandia. Tītipounamu is the ninth bird species to be brought back to Wellington by Zealandia.

- C E L E B R AT I N G 5 Y E A R S W I T H T H E O R I G I N A L F R A N K I N C E N S E B A L M F R A N K I N C E N S E I S A H E A L I N G A R O M A T I C R E S I N F R O M A H I G H LY R E V E R E D M E D I C I N A L T R E E G I F T W I T H O N L I N E P U R C H A S E S O V E R $ 5 0 - W E L L I N G T O N A P O T H E C A R Y. C O . N Z - 1 1 0 A C U B A M A L L - 0 4 8 0 1 8 7 7 7

Wellington Sat, 13 April, 7.30pm Michael Fowler Centre

Enigma Edo de Waart Conductor Joyce Yang Piano Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 Richard Strauss Serenade for Winds Elgar Enigma Variations

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SB EYC TT H IO E NN H UM E AB D EE RR S

Weekend The concept of a weekend is relatively new. In the early 19th century, industrialised Northern England was the first area to entertain the idea of a five-day working week. I regularly entertain the idea of a three-day working week and four-day weekend but there’s a chasm between dreaming and reality.

I love you year year year

1879

1926

2010

first appearance of the word ‘weekend’ in a publication – British magazine Notes and Queries

the year Henry Ford standardised a fiveday working week in his factories (previously six days)

the decade that Arab countries began to standardise their weekend as Sat – Sun (as opposed to Fri – Sat) largely to fit in with international markets

Now is the hour

6.7

number of hours in a working week considered excessive by the International Labour Organisation

typical number of hours worked per day in Burundi and Cameroon

typical number of hours worked per day in Djibouti

number of hours by which a working week is reduced during Ramadan (40 down to 30) in Muslim countries

Entertainment weekly

days a week according to the Beatles

number of Weekend at Bernie’s in the movie franchise (1989 & 1993 and mercifully no more)

position in the Billboard Hot 100, of Dolly Parton’s song 9 to 5 when it was released in 1980

number of albums from New York rock band Vampire Weekend

Finally, as I trawl through the net to bring you elucidation and incomparable wit each month, I sometimes stumble across things that I can’t shoehorn into the

column as there is no ‘number’ associated with them. Like this brilliant quote from Master of Stupidity by Toba Beta. ‘No weekend, all weakened.’

Compiled by Craig Beardsworth 17

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TA L E S O F T H E C I T Y

Pinch of salt W R I T T E N BY F R A N C E S CA E M M S P H OTO G R A P H BY T E K AWA RO B B

BOOK

ARTIST

BAR

WEEKEND

OFFSPRING

This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay

James Jean

Laundry

Cape Palliser

Leo, 6 years old, Ninja in training

Designer and surfer Harry A’Court has work life balance.

alt water has always been a big part of Harry A’Court’s life. He grew up on the water’s edge around Eastbourne. ‘Whenever I fly over or drive into Wellington and see Matiu & Mākaro nestled in the middle of the harbour, I get that feeling of being home.’ The South Coast is his favourite part of Wellington. He says its rugged beauty, epic sunsets and hearty people are among the main reasons he still lives in the Capital. Harry’s been holidaying at Wainui Beach in Gisborne since he was a kid and it’s still a favourite place to visit, ‘perfect waves, copious amounts of sunshine and golden sand beaches that stretch the entire coastline.’ A recent trip to a friend’s surf resort in Northern Sumatra was such a success that he could easily see himself ‘putting the anchor down there for a couple months.’ Asked what he covets, Harry says, ‘That the world collectively gets its shit together and fights against climate change.’ As founder and creative director of Inject Design, Harry encourages his clients and suppliers to be as environmentally responsible as possible. Inject Design ‘proudly supports’ Sustainable Coastlines (Cap #6) and recently created a logo and illustrations for the Flagship Education Centre, the next step in Sustainable Coastlines’ mission to help educate the public about looking after our waterways, coastlines, and ecosystem. The Inject Design team is behind the branding of a

number of local businesses including Commonsense Organics, Hell Pizza and Wellington Chocolate Factory. They’ve collected a number of design awards over the years, and the album cover they created for Blackbird won Fat Freddy’s Drop a New Zealand Music Award for album cover of the year. Outside of work Harry will either be found at Bunnings – ‘My house is over 100 years old and always needing some love,’ or outdoors, ‘surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, skating, fishing, tennis, golf.’ The perfect weekend away is ‘taking the new off-road camper for a weekend surf mission over the coast to Cape Palliser, firing up the BBQ and cracking a few Superchargers after a solid day on the water.’ Somehow Harry manages to find time to indulge his artistic side too. ‘I find artist James Jean’s work to be one of my biggest creative inspirations. His line work, colours, craft and print finishings are incredibly on point.’ He’s just read This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay, ‘Painfully funny secret diaries of a Junior Doctor.’ And he’s currently enjoying Half Mile Harvest, the debut album from Australian quartet the Teskey Brothers. ‘It’s like taking a step back to the days of BB King and Otis Redding. Every track is vintage quality.’ If he had time for more study Harry would do music. ‘I would love to fine tune my guitar and vocal skills, and expand my musical theory.’

CULTURE

HOME COMING Wellingtonian Ngaere Jenkins is currently touring the country with the New Zealand Dance Company. She’ll be performing in her home town on 1 May at the Opera House in Kiss the Sky, a triple bill that reflects on the themes of nature and time. One of the newest members of the company, Ngaere is a very recent graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance where she was taught by Victoria Columbus, who choreographed one of the three works, The Fibonacci. The other works are Sigan by Kim Jae Duk and If Never Was Now by Stephanie Lake.

REJOYCE

ALL GROWN UP

KNO CK OUT

South Korean pianist Joyce Yang, who loves collaborating with the NZ Symphony Orchestra, is back again. The Grammy-nominated pianist – called a ‘knockout’ by the New York Times – will perform Brahms’ challenging Piano Concerto No. 1 in the NZSO’s Podium Series concert ‘Enigma’ (13 April). It shares the bill with Strauss’ Serenade for Winds and Elgar’s Variations on an Original Theme.

BATS Theatre has left its wild 20s behind – and is celebrating its 30th birthday with BATStravaganza (6 April). BATS’ best snippets of theatre, dance, comedy and music from the last three decades – including 1990 play Blue Sky Boy with its rock’n’roll numbers – will be performed at the Embassy (the screen will show close-ups, like a stadium concert). ‘Come along, whether you’ve seen BATS shows or just walked past,’ says organiser Cassandra Tse. Other birthday events are on throughout the year.

See a huge punching bag hanging from the ceiling at City Gallery exhibition ‘Eva Rothschild: Kosmos’ (6 April to 28 July). And walk through A Sacrificial Layer (pictured), where dangling ‘curtains’ made of thin, five-metre-long strips of material form a geometric pattern. The Irishborn, London-based artist’s striking, sometimes spare modernist sculptures are about human relationships with the material world. The first Australasian survey of Rothschild’s work is a joint project between City Gallery and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

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CULTURE

LUCK OF THE IRISH Irish choreographer/director Michael Keegan-Dolan and his company Teaċ Daṁsa have just taken up the NZ Festival’s inaugural six-week ‘Made in Wellington’ residency. Michael, who presented Swan Lake, Rian and Giselle at previous NZ Festivals, is developing a theatrical dance production for the 2020 festival. His work, which ‘reclaims’ Irish culture, is also informed by where he creates productions. ‘I’ve travelled the world with my work and there’s no city I’d rather be working in than Wellington,’ Michael tells Capital. After the residency, he’ll tour the South Island with his family.

RELIVING HISTORY

GO ODBYE BASH

JOURNAL-ISTS

Author, musician and radio presenter Nick Bollinger has received $12,000 from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage’s New Zealand History Awards to write a book about New Zealand’s counterculture between 1960 and 1975. Another Wellingtonian to get $12,000 is Ross Calman for a bilingual edition of a biography of Te Rauparaha, originally written in te reo in the 19th century.

White Man Behind a Desk sounds like the start of a bad joke, but it’s also the persona of Wellington comedian Robbie Nicol, whose stand-up comedy and Youtube series (of the same name) satirise politics while tackling contentious topics. His new show WMBAD: A Party For The End of The World shows at BATS (7–11 May) during the NZ International Comedy Festival. The show’s largely about climate change – and farewelling the world. ‘It was fun while it lasted!’ Robbie says.

New Zealanders aged from 5 to 14 can submit stories, poems and art that explore connections with Latin American or Southeast Asian cultures to two unique journals. They’ll be published by Toitoi Media – which produces quarterly journals collecting Kiwi youths’ art and writing – in collaboration with Victoria University’s School of Languages and Cultures and the Victoria-based Latin America and Southeast Asia Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence. All New Zealand primary and intermediate schools and public libraries will get copies in January.

CULTURE

International Dance Day 2019 Free public dance workshops and performances. Fantastic celebration of dance, everyone welcome! Learn a new dance, with a wide range of workshops from Samoan Sasa to Scottish ceilidh. Watch performances by local groups that reflect the rich diversity of dance in Wellington. Sunday 28 April, 10.45am - 4pm. Te Papa, Wellington. internationaldanceday.org.nz

{Suite}

Art Attack

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F E AT U R E

Perpetua l motion P H OTO G R A P H BY ST E P H E N A ’ CO U RT

Good luck finding a flaw in Lucy Marinkovich. She talks to Sarah Lang about dancing to your death, creative collaboration, and vomiting at good news.

n 14 July 1518, Frau Troffea of Strasbourg (on the border of France and Germany) walked into the street and began to dance ferociously and without apparent enjoyment. She continued nonstop for six days until her shoes were soaked with blood. A week later, 34 people were dancing next to her in the same manic, trance-like way. Over that blazingly hot month, around 400 Strasbourg residents were afflicted, until they suddenly ‘came to’. Some danced themselves to death from dehydration, or heatstrokeinduced heart attacks or strokes. This is a true story. It’s well documented in the town’s records, and in John Waller’s 2008 book A Time to Dance, A Time To Die. Competing theories regarding the ‘dancing plague’ have been floated, but it’s now believed to be an incident of mass ‘psychogenic illness’: physical disease arising from emotional or mental stressors – such as the starvation-level poverty and disease stalking 16th-century Strasbourg. This incident is the basis of Lucy Marinkovich’s dance work-in-progress Strasbourg 1518. ‘The dance plague is horrific and sad, but there’s also something oddly inspiring about it − and the idea of dance as protest,’ Lucy says. The bubbly, unfairly beautiful 29-year-old is the founder, artistic director, choreographer and lead dancer of multi-disciplinary performance collective Borderline Arts Ensemble. She’s currently developing Strasbourg 1518 with saxophonist/composer Lucien Johnson (her fiancé), four other regular collaborators, and dancer Michael Parmenter. They’ll perform the work in March 2020, because the next nine months are spoken for (no, Lucy’s not pregnant).

Lucy and Lucien have been jointly awarded the 2019 Harriet Friedlander Residency, established by the late arts patron, and run by a trust alongside the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. It allows the couple to live in New York for as long as $100,000 lasts. They leave this month and plan to return in January 2020. The biennial residency, which you can’t apply for, is normally bestowed on one artist. But Simon Bowden from the Arts Foundation says a joint residency makes sense. ‘There’s already [financial] provision for a partner, and either could have been selected alone on their own merits.’ When Simon phoned Lucy with the news, she’d just finished MC-ing a school dance performance in Christchurch as the Royal NZ Ballet’s dance educator. ‘My response was so uncool. I cried then threw up.’ This unusual residency has no specific objectives. ‘It’s mainly to experience New York. What we do is up to us.’ Of course, Lucy wants to connect with certain dance companies and theatres. She’d also like to train further as an instructor for the New York-based, global ‘Dance for PD’ (Parkinson’s Disease) initiative, after she participated in the inaugural New Zealand training workshop last year. (These classes have physical, emotional and social benefits for Parkinson’s sufferers.) While they’re away, Lucien and Lucy will rent out their flat in an art-deco building in Mt Victoria, shared with Russian Blue cat Kandinsky. The couple met six years ago. ‘I was finally out and about after a break-up. I was tired of being sad – it’s not my natural state.’ After her friend bailed on the launch of Eleanor Catton’s book The Luminaries, Lucy went alone, and met Lucien for the first time. When Lucy left Unity

F E AT U R E

Books, he caught up to her and asked her out. ‘I said “No, I’ve just been broken up with” and he said “Just as friends?” I said “Oh, alright!”’ Lucy’s ‘on the fence’ about children. The couple love cooking for friends, and work late. ‘We’re night owls not morning people.’ When I visit at 9.30am, Lucy has set her alarm to get up on time, as she does to catch morning flights. She’s visited close to 20 countries to research, dance, choreograph and teach, particularly in Southeast Asia. In February she and three other New Zealanders travelled to Taiwan and Japan through the Creative NZ Asia Artform [Research and Exchange] Fund, to begin developing collaborative projects with artists in Asia. Lucy is a self-confessed Type-A perfectionist. ‘I know exactly what I want my work, and even my funding applications, to be like. If you can make that happen, why wouldn’t you?’ It certainly happened in 2017, when Lucy choreographed and danced in Borderline’s award-winning surrealist production Lobsters. She began dancing aged five, attending ballet classes taught by Deirdre Tarrant. Lucy took up contemporary dance in her early teens, and after high school trained at the the NZ School of Dance. Then she joined Deirdre’s contemporary-dance troupe Footnote, performing nationally and internationally (while doing an extramural BA in English Literature). A dance career has an expiry date, though Lucy wants to dance into her 50s. But choreography always appealed. ‘I was interested in the choreographic process, and Deirdre encouraged me to create a work for Footnote.’ Commissions for other companies followed. ‘As a dancer you do work choreographically creating movement – so in a way, you’re halfway there.’ How important is collaboration? ‘Collaboration is my work!’ Lucy’s regular Borderline collaborators – Lucien (composer/musician), Emmanuel Reynaud and Xin Ji (dancers), Jeremy Brick (filmmaker), and Philip Merry (photographer) – are part of the

creative process at different stages. Other collaborators participate in specific projects. When Lucy choreographs, the dancers ‘have complete agency to say, do, what they want – to contribute ideas and suggestions. I’ll give a ‘‘provocation’’ or task – for one work, I came up with a list of the most famous romantic films of all time. The dancers created a physical interpretation of each film – almost like charades. I’ll think ‘‘this bit has potential’’ and sometimes say ‘‘Sorry, that’s a bad idea’’. I don’t think anything gets lost in the process of collaboration. If I was alone, I’d chase myself in circles, whereas collaboration compels me to make decisions.’ Collaborating with Lucien makes sense. ‘It’s more often me bringing Lucien into my projects than him bringing his dancer-choreographer girlfriend into his jazz work, though we’re developing Strasbourg 1518 together. He’s the biggest creative influence in my life. There’s no division between work and life for us. We talk about films, politics, literature, artists, music.’ Lucy also knits for the Red Cross. I’m trying hard to find a flaw in Lucy. ‘Extreme vanity,’ she says, deadpan. She does ’fess up to a guilty pleasure that I share. ‘Some super intelligent, fiercely feminist friends and I watch The Bachelor [U.S version]. My family is obsessed with sport and they’ll yell at the TV. The Bachelor is my version of that.’ She also loves baking. ‘My family’s obsessed with food.’ Her dad Zukov, of Croatian descent, was general manager of Moore Wilson’s for many years, and he and wife Lynsey (a former airline booking agent) often help out at daughter Kate’s Mt Vic bakery, Tomboy. They’re a good-looking family. Lucy does occasional modelling, including for WETA workshop sculptures and, most recently, as the Medusa-like covergirl of Circa’s 2018 catalogue. Her contracts and commissions pay the bills – just. ‘I’m doing well getting work, but when the jobs end, the money stops. But now we get to soak up New York! I still can’t quite believe it.’

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OPINION

Over t he ra inbow The rainbow painted on the bank at Wellington Airport has attracted mixed feedback. Board member Tim Brown lays it out.

y late great boss Lloyd Morrison strongly believed in the power of symbols. Amongst other demonstrations of this was his campaign to change the New Zealand flag, because he felt that as a symbol of New Zealand it was outdated and irrelevant. Once I thought about it I came to believe he was right and that it was a fight worth having. Collecting petition signatures on Lambton Quay at lunchtime was fascinating. Many people had strong opinions one way or the other, but many also asked, ‘Why waste your time doing this?’ The flag didn’t matter for everyone. John Key’s subsequent flag campaign failed, in my opinion, because he never asked the question, ‘What does it mean to be a New Zealander?’ and therefore didn’t use this as a starting point for a new flag. Instead we just got a jumble of ferns, kiwis, stars, and korus with blue or black backgrounds. Irrelevant status quo or irrelevant jumble? A recent reminder for me of blind spots and the relevance of symbols came from Wellington Airport painting a giant rainbow across the end of its runway. It was done to draw attention to the gay pride week then happening in Wellington, because it was fun to connect the airport with its community, because of the potential for positive international media coverage, and because it is something worth cheering for. Did the rainbow symbolise more than the sum of those explanations for its existence? Do gay people benefit from expressions of solidarity? They aren’t exactly a beleaguered group of outcasts. The local MP is on the record saying that today his sexual orientation is not an impediment to his career. Subsequently I discovered that, as with the New Zealand Flag, the Rainbow has a lot of relevance for some people, both positive and negative. First the negatives, I

only read one of the emails the airport received: ‘NO, to that homosexual rainbow, it is HIGHLY offensive, Why are you supporting this mental illness as natural and normal? Have you not seen the degeneracy overseas coming directly from homosexuality being accepted by morons.’ I quote it in full as it’s worth knowing that such views exist. Without that knowledge it’s a bit too easy to assume that it’s a topic which has lost its punch. It also made the positive messages more understandable. ‘I want to say well done and thanks for the rainbow. One of the happenings in our family last year was my son transitioning to be my daughter. She is in her first year of college. It's been a very positive experience − which is a credit to her, her generation, her new school and to Wellington. So we are lucky − all positive and no angst. But as a new parent of a trans child you become aware of a couple of things. First, the terrible statistics on what happens if you get it wrong. And second, how much symbols matter. Rainbow pedestrian crossings and big proud rainbows at the airport have a direct effect on lives. Confidence, acceptance, positivity. So, thanks!’ Wiki tells me that the rainbow was the idea of a San Francisco artist in 1978. Its emotional power now is because it has become a battle pennant. Although, as with the New Zealand Flag, not everyone is affected. The feedback has meant that everyone involved with painting the rainbow has learnt about its impact on others, in ways both chilling and heart-warming. And while the airport’s rainbow is a positive symbol of support for LGBTQI+ people and their whānau, it was also very positive for the painters to receive the feedback from those who appreciated the symbol.

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WEEKEND

On t he beate n t rack

Featherston Time: 1 hour from Wellington by car State Highway 2 Fan club: Sam says, ‘Feddy’s actually a great place for a weekend away. You can get really nice and affordable accommodation, as long as you don’t go during wedding season (essentially that leaves winter). Go to C’est Cheese to stock up on cheese, and if you’re lucky Hoki Smoke will be open and selling their delicious smoked fish products. You’ll also find heaps (like, maybe five or six) secondhand bookshops. My favourite is For the Love of Books. If you’re there in early April, hit the primary school’s harvest festival. Last year I got a really fancy juicer for $2.50.’

Thinking of weekends and breaks, we wanted to offer readers a fresh take on the idea of a weekend away. We wanted low energy expenditure in every way, none of those grizzling ‘how much longer’ questions and nobody saying ‘I haven’t got anything to pack.’ And they’re all in the Capital circulation area.

On in April: Longwood Life Lessons – Emily Writes A talk by the author of best-selling book Rants In the Dark. Longwood Estate, South Featherston, 26 April, 7pm

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F ox t o n Time: 1 hour 50 mins from Wellington by car State Highway 1 Fan club: Alex says, ‘Foxton has New Zealand’s best opp shop, Junk & Disorderly. My girlfriend found an amazing orange jumpsuit and a Poole tea set. We went up for the Horowhenua Taste Trail and had an awesome time. We were really into the food, but we also just had a really fun holiday in Foxton. We drank Foxton Fizz of course, and took pictures with the windmill. Next time we’ll visit the new museum. It was created in collaboration with the local Dutch community and iwi to reflect Foxton’s heritage.’

Masterton Time: 1.5 hours from Wellington by car State Highway 2 Fan club: Hannah says, ‘Masterton is a really comforting place, everything feels easier and more relaxed. Masterton has one of the best bakeries in the country 10 O'Clock Cookie Company. Their opera cake is worth the trip alone. I really recommend a trip up Norfolk Rd to Paul Melser Pottery, and have a cocktail and delicious dinner at The Screening Room before going to the movies there in their two boutique cinemas.’

Did you know: Foxton township was once a deep river port serving the Manawatu region’s flax industry. In the late 1800s, there were 50 flax mills operating within a 16km radius of Foxton. Today, one of the town’s key attractions is the Flax Stripper Museum.

On in April: Sam Ludden WAI A multi-media exhibition exploring water. Aratoi, Wairarapa Museum of Art + History, until 26 May.

On in April: Foxton Easter Sunday Fair More than 200 stalls, food and fun. Easton Park, Foxton, 21 April, from 9am

WEEKEND

Pa lmerston Nor th Time: 2 hours from Wellington by car State Highway 3 and State Highway 56 Fan club: Georgia says, ‘In a single weekend you can have great Japanese food, get your nails done cheaper than anywhere in Wellington, have a panel beater fix your bumper on the same day (because you hit a pole in New Plymouth) and bump into an old friend in the Square who's wearing a t-shirt saying "Doing absolutely nothing in my activewear" because in Palmy there is no judgment.’ On in April: New Zealand Tattoo A pageant of music, marching, manoeuvres, bands, fly-pasts, kapa haka, dance, pomp and ceremony. Central Energy Trust Arena, 12 and 13 April, 6.30pm.

Whanganui Time: 2.5 hours from Wellington by car State Highway 3

Wo o d v i l l e

Fan club: Cherie says, ‘There's something about the mighty Whanganui awa running through the town that gives Whanganui a kind of energy. Where else can you watch someone demonstrate the art of glassblowing, then stroll down to the river market, ride in an underground elevator to the top of a hill to appreciate the view, and finish with a concert at a beautifully restored Victorian opera house? Some parts of the city are a little rough around the edges, but you'll find lots of hidden (and not-so hidden) gems! I love Virginia Lake with its Winter Gardens. They’re like a big Art Deco glasshouse with colourful flowers and tropical plants and a kind of tunnel you walk through. They’re a garden for any weather and the building itself is a cool Art Deco design.’

Time: 2.5 hours from Wellington by car State Highway 2 and State Highway 3 Fan Club: Mike says, ‘Mainly I go out that way for fly fishing, but there’s an amazing antique shop in Woodville. The guy who owns it is crazy. I feel like I’m going into battle when I go in. It’s a challenge. But the stuff he’s got in there is really good. He is so rude. I don’t know why I keep going back there. Also, Woodville has great cheesecake, a supercheap motel, no light pollution so the stars are brilliant, and the museum has a teapot collection lol.’ Did you know: Portrait artist, Gottfried Lindauer had a long association with Woodville. He built a house and studio there in 1890. His last years were spent quietly in Woodville and he died on 13th June 1926 aged 87.

On in April: 2019 Pattillo Whanganui Arts Review Award winners and finalists of the Whanganui Arts Review. Sarjeant Gallery, 38 Taupō Quay, until 12 May.

F E AT U R E

Green gems W R I TT E N BY SA R A H CAT H E R A L L P H OTO G R A P H BY E VA N G E L I N E DAV I S

f you laid out Wellington’s 460 kilometres of greenbelt trails end to end, you could walk from here to Hamilton on them. Close to the city, some just over the back of suburban fences, these paths meandering through green corridors are one of the region’s assets. Since I moved here two decades ago, I’ve run and walked over many of the city’s obvious trails. Like many runners, though, I’m a creature of habit. Living in Wellington’s east, there are routes I tread regularly − the trails around Breaker Bay, Mount Victoria, and Polhill Reserve, and an asphalt route along the waterfront up through the Botanical Gardens. This year, I set myself a new challenge − to venture beyond these routes and explore some of the 300 kilometres of trails through and around Wellington, plus the additional 162 kms on the outer green belt. I want to discover the peaks that friends who live west, in Kelburn and Karori, rave about, to find the trails I’ve never explored before, and to climb the peaks beyond the city to see new vistas of this wild, windy and beautiful city I call home. It’s great timing to share my journey with you, as the Wellington City Council is consulting on the future management of its outer tracks and reserves (wellington.govt. nz/outergreenbelt) See Part 2, in our May issue.

Exploring We l l i n g t o n’s w e s t On a February morning so windy that a $20 note blows out of my handbag never to be seen again, I meet a friend, Catherine, near Zealandia. We drive to the entrance near Trelissick Park, halfway up Ngaio Gorge Road. I’ve walked through Trelissick Park a

couple of times over the years, with a double buggy when my daughters were young, but I’ve never attempted the 7km City to Sea walk to Zealandia. Catherine’s pooch, Teddy, is so excited to see me that he jumps into my lap in the front seat (he knows he’ll get a decent walk when I’m around). We begin our walk beside the thin, shallow Kaiwharawhara Stream which runs all the way from the sea to Zealandia. The gusty northerly miraculously stops like a noisy orchestra suddenly quietened, replaced by the occasional burst of a tui call. The trail takes us to the northern end of Trelissick Park, to the start of the Northern Walkway. For the next 30 minutes, we walk through a green corridor of old forest, and regenerating bush – towering natives, soft green ngaio trees and dense ferns. A band of keen locals (The Trelissick Park Group) have pulled out hectares of weeds and planted hundreds of native plants and trees. In the lower part of the stream, you can apparently spot the odd eel if you stare long enough into the dark, shadowy waters. This trail would be an easy one to run, as it’s flat and virtually empty on a weekday morning. We pass solo walkers with dogs, and half a dozen British tourists ambling together. Small bridges with number markers are signposted with information about each spot. We know we’re out of the park when we emerge from the greenery and hit Waikowhai Street, where the wind whips up again. We stop for a coffee at the bright yellow Columbus Coffee caravan parked in a supermarket carpark. Eventually, we enter Otari Wilton’s Bush, 100 hectares of delicious green wilderness. It is Wellington’s oldest scenic reserve, a gem in the backyard of Northland, Wadestown and Ngaio. The bush forest reserve in Wellington’s

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outer green belt protects original and regenerating bush that once covered much of Wellington. Many of the trees are apparently several hundred years old. When my daughters were young (they’re teens now), I often took them on the 20-minute ‘canopy’ walk. Today, we walk the ‘blue’ trail through dense kohekohe forest. Kereru fly above us, and kaka and kakariki screech about. Eventually, the green canopy above parts and we walk into Karori Cemetery. Historic graveyards are lined up in rows beneath gumtrees. We weave through paths beside crumbling graves engraved with fading names. The wind stills, and the whole place is eerily quiet, until we hit the main road again and walk down the hill beside a stream of noisy cars. We’ve walked 7.6 kms, and taken 1.5 hours. Next time, I’ll find the 100-year-old rimu tree in Otari bush, and view the war graves.

W r i g h t s H i l l , Ka r o r i , to Aro Street Since we met more than two years ago, my partner has been raving about Wrights Hill and the thick green bush reserve surrounding it. I know Karori is the starting point of Makara’s 40 kilometre of trails, but I’m ignorant about much else out that way. On a hot February Saturday, we drive to South Karori, wind through a few suburban streets, and park our car at the southern entrance to Wrights Hill Reserve. The bush and trails here are similar to tracks on the South Coast, covered in regenerating lime-green bush.

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The reserve has two official walks: the 2.4 km Lookout loop walk, taking about 1.5 hours or the 1 kilometre Salvation Bush walk, taking about 45 minutes. Our trail from the south takes us to the loop walk. The journey is pretty enough but the destination is the highlight. After an easy 20 minute climb, we reach Wrights Hill – and near the top, a former WW1 gun emplacement, a grey monolithic concrete bunker which once boasted a disappearing gun and ammunition. Wellington is spread out below, and we have vast views of Wellington Harbour, the south coast, over to the Wairarapa, and out to Petone. Next we wind down a four-kilometre trail running beside the Zealandia sanctuary fenceline. It’s a dirt track, steep in parts. The Brooklyn wind turbine waves to us in the distance. I’ve only ever spied the turbine from below, but we approach it from the southern end. The turbine is barely moving when we get there, and we head past it, walking down towards George Denton Park in Highbury. Transpower pylons tower above like steel monsters, and we pass a reservoir. This is the route I’m familiar with through the park, we are back on a trail covered in bush, sheltered from the sun. The Polhill Reserve 7.3 km loop is one I run regularly. Aro Valley used to be called Polhill Gully, after a settler, Baker Polhill, who arrived in 1841 and ran a timber business in lower Aro Street. Three kilometres later, after passing a few mountain bikers on the way, we drop on to Aro Street, back towards civilization. Two and a half hours since we started out, we drink flat whites at Aro Cafe, the noise of traffic replacing birdsong.

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F E AT U R E

Bir thday bites It’s our 60th issue which means Capital is turning six! Last year we looked back at some of our favourite stories and produced a special 50th issue. This year we have some birthday briefs, and if we have time, we might eat some cake (or more likely Easter eggs and hot cross buns).

APRIL BABES

BIRTHDAY BALM

THE BIG THREE-OH

April is one of the least common birth months in New Zealand, but there are some notable Wellington April babies. Dame Elizabeth Jane Campion DNZM was born in Wellington on 30 April 1954. She is, as yet, the only female filmmaker to ever receive the Palme d'Or which she was awarded for directing The Piano in 1993. She also won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. We don’t really want to claim him, but Russell Crowe was also born in Wellington in April (7 April 1964). And Frances Hodgkins… well, she isn’t really ours ‘cause she was born in Dunedin, but she did spend time in Wellington and established a teaching studio here in the early 1900s. She would be 150 this month.

Established in April 2014, Wellington Apothecary is celebrating its fifth birthday this month. To celebrate they’re offering a birthday special on their Frankincense balm, the first product they ever made! It’s a yummy blend of NZ avocado oil, organic fair-trade cacao butter, organic shea butter, natural vitamin E and essential oils of frankincense, rose and palmarosa, and can literally be used top to toe – from dry hair to cracked heels and everything in between. Get it free with a $50 online purchase.

Congratulations to East by West Ferries, BATS Theatre and Midnight Espresso, who are all celebrating their 30th birthday. Jeremy Ward, who started East by West Ferries in 1989 says 30 years has come around quickly, and laughs that it makes him feel old. To mark the occasion they’ve got a flash new logo, and will have celebrations and giveaways happening throughout the year. Rather than slowing down, the company is full steam ahead. They’re currently building the first electric ferry in the Southern Hemisphere. It should be on the water by the end of the year.

Fine print, small print, or “mouseprint” is less noticeable print smaller than the more obvious larger print it accompanies that advertises or otherwise describes or partially describes a commercial product or service.[1] The larger print that is used in conjunction with fine print by the merchant often has the effect of deceiving the consumer into believing the offer is more advantageous than it really is, via a legal technicality which requires full disclosure of all (even unfavorable) terms or conditions, but does not specify the manner (size, typeface, coloring, etc.) of disclosure. There is strong evidence that suggests the fine print is not read by the majority of consumers.[2]Fine print may say the opposite of what the larger print says. For example, if the larger print says “pre-approved” the fine print might say “subject to approval.” [3] Especially in pharmaceutical advertisements, fine print may accompany a warning message, but this message is often neutralized by the more eye-catching positive images and pleasant background music (eye candy). Sometimes television advertisements flash text fine print in camouflagic colors, and for notoriously brief periods of time, making it difficult or impossible for the viewer to rea Fine print, small print, or “mouseprint” is less noticeable print smaller than the more obvious larger print it accompanies that advertises or otherwise describes or partially describes a commercial product or service.[1] The larger print that is used in conjunction with fine print by the merchant often has the effect of deceiving the consumer into believing the offer is more advantageous than it really is, via a legal technicality which requires full disclosure of all (even unfavorable) terms or conditions, but does not specify the manner (size, typeface, coloring, etc.) of disclosure. There is strong evidence that suggests the fine print is not read by the majority of consumers.[2]Fine print may say the opposite of what the larger print says. For example, if the larger print says “pre-approved” the fine print might say “subject to approval.” [3] Especially in pharmaceutical advertisements, fine print may accompany a warning message, but this message is often neutralized by the more eye-catching positive images and pleasant background music (eye candy). Sometimes television a colors, and for notoriously brief periods of time, making it difficult or impossible for the viewer to rea Fine print, small print, or “mouseprint” is less noticeable print smaller than the more obvious larger print it accompanies that advertises or otherwise describes or partially describes a commercial product or service.[1] The larger print that is used in conjunction with fine print by the merchant often has the effect of deceiving the consumer into believing the offer is more advantageous than it really is, via a legal technicality which requires full disclosure of all (even unfavorable) terms or conditions, but does not specify the manner (size, typeface, coloring, etc.) of disclosure. There is strong evidence that suggests the fine print is not read by the majority of consumers.[2]Fine print may say the opposite of what the larger print says. For example, if the larger print says “pre-approved” the fine print might say “subject to approval.” [3] Especially in pharmaceutical advertisements, fine print may accompany a warning message, but this message is often neutralized by the more eye-catching positive images and pleasant background music (eye candy). Sometimes television advertisements flash text fine print in camouflagic colors, and for notoriously brief periods of time, making it difficult or impossible for the viewer to reaine print, small print, or “mouseprint” is less noticeable print smaller than the more obvious larger print it accompanies that advertises or otherwise describes or partially describes a commercial product or service.[1] The larger print that is used in conjunction with fine print by the merchant often has the effect of deceiving the consumer into believing the offer is more advantageous than it really is, via a legal technicality which requires full disclosure of all (even unfavorable) terms or conditions, but does not specify the manner (size, typeface, coloring, etc.) of disclosure. There is strong evidence that suggests the fine print is not read by the majority of consumers.[2]Fine print may say the opposite of what the larger print says. For example, if the larger print says “pre-approved” the fine print might say “subject to approval.” [3] Especially in pharmaceutical advertisements, fine print may accompany a warning message, but this message is often neutralized by the more eye-catching positive images and pleasant background music (eye candy). Sometimes television advertisements flash text fine print in camouflagic colors, and for notoriously brief periods of time, making it difficult or impossible for the viewer to rea Fine print, small print, or “mouseprint” is less noticeable print smaller than the more obvious larger print it accompanies that advertises or otherwise describes or partially describes a commercial product or service.[1] The larger print that is used in conjunction with fine print by the merchant often has the effect of deceiving the consumer into believing the offer is more advantageous than it really is, via a legal technicality which requires full disclosure of all (even unfavorable) terms or conditions, but does not specify the manner (size, typeface, coloring, etc.) of disclosure. There is strong evidence that suggests the fine print is not read by the majority of consumers.[2] Fine print may say the opposite of what the larger print says. For example, if the larger print says “pre-approved” the fine print might say “subject to approval.” [3] Especially in pharmaceutical advertisements, fine print may accompany a warning message, but this message is often neutralized by the more eye-catching positive images and pleasant background music (eye candy). Sometimes television a colors, and for notoriously brief periods of time, making it difficult or impossible for the viewer to rea Fine print, small print, or “mouseprint” is less noticeable print smaller than the more obvious larger print it accompanies that advertises or otherwise describes or partially describes a commercial product or service.[1] The larger print that is used in conjunction with fine print by the merchant often has the effect of deceiving the consumer into believing the offer is more advantageous than it really is, via a legal technicality which requires full disclosure of all (even unfavorable) terms or conditions, but does not specify the manner (size, typeface, coloring, etc.) of disclosure. There is strong evidence that suggests the fine print is not read by the majority of consumers.[2]Fine print may say the opposite of what the larger print says. For example, if the larger print says “pre-approved” the fine print might say “subject to approval.” [3] Especially in pharmaceutical advertisements, fine print may accompany a warning message, but this message is often neutralized by the more eye-catching positive images and pleasant background music (eye candy). Sometimes television advertisements flash text fine print in camouflagic colors, and for notoriously brief periods of time, making it difficult or impossible for the viewer to rea

Buying or selling property? Use our experience. We SEE the small print.

PARTNERS Ramona Rasch LLB David Leong LLB 37 38 Onepu Road | Kilbirnie, Wellington | Tel 04 387 7831 | www.raschleong.co.nz

30 Years

Tig ht unit W R I T T E N BY SA R A H L A N G P H OTO G R A P H BY J O R A M A DA M S

n 1962, at age eight, Barbara Hay was dragged to Hutt Repertory Theatre by her aunts – a seamstress and a milliner who served as wardrobe designers for what is still the Hutt Valley’s main amateur theatre group. ‘I wish my aunts had lived to see the World of Wearable Arts. They did see me play Second Stoat in the The Wind and The Willows,’ Barbara says with a laugh. Now 65, Barbara designed Hutt Repertory sets for 40plus years, also dabbling in directing and stage management. The retired primary school principal is currently creating a ‘booklet of memories’ sourced from current and former members to mark Hutt Repertory’s 75th birthday. Hutt Repertory was established in 1944 so that local thespians and theatre-lovers didn’t have to travel into Wellington city. The co-founders were Mary McKenzie, an actress and drama teacher, and English immigrant

Davina Whitehouse, whose 70-year acting career included theatre and film roles in Britain. Founding members took out loans to provide initial funding. A modest building behind the shops opposite Epuni Railway Station was their rehearsal space from the 1950s to 1970s, and since then its performance venue. The group, which usually performs four plays a year, has 71 current members. Alumni include actors Peter Hambleton, Cameron Rhodes and Ken Blackburn. To mark its birthday, this year Hutt Repertory is staging three shows including Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra (from 24 April) – and running six workshops including mask-making and makeup artistry. ‘You become a tight unit during the four or so months you work on a show,’ Barbara says. ‘We’ve had a hell of a good time.’

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F E AT U R E

Melod ic migration W R I TT E N BY F R A N C E S CA E M M S W I T H AS S I STA N C E F RO M JAYS O N S O M A P H OTO G R A P H BY A N N A B R I G G S

Abid is the bean counter and Abrzy counts the beats.

bid Rahman spends his days working as an accountant at Xero’s Wellington office. But when the 26-year-old closes his spreadsheets, he picks up his song-sheets and becomes Abrzy – a rapper who has opened for international hip hop artists such as Lil Yachty, Kid Ink, Tinie Tempah, and Bliss n Eso. Originally from Bangladesh, Abid has few memories from his early childhood in Dhaka. He says very specific things stick in his mind, ‘like what color my school uniform was, or this particular cough syrup that my mum would give me when I was sick, that I didn't really like.’ Abid lived in a small one-bedroom apartment with his mother and father. ‘My mum stayed home to look after me, and my dad had to work two or three jobs to support us.’ One of those jobs was with the Dhaka Electrical Supply Authority. There, Abid’s father met a New Zealander called Peter who convinced him he should move to Aotearoa for a better life for his young son. ‘When we moved we actually stayed at his house in Auckland for a month,’ says Abid. ‘He’s a very kind man and we’re still friends with their family.’ Life as a ﬁrst-generation immigrant was a challenge. With no English, Abid was an outsider, and this made his school years difficult. ‘Children can be cruel, so there was a lot of bullying and little happiness. I wasn't the sportiest, wasn't the

smartest, wasn't the most popular, but the thing I excelled at was music,’ he says. Over the years Abid and his family made trips back to Bangladesh to visit family. Seeing the poverty-stricken city of his childhood, Abid realised that despite the difficulties of starting afresh in a new country, New Zealand provided the tools to do anything he wanted with his life. He says he felt it was his obligation to make the most of the opportunities that he’d been blessed with. In the early 2000s Eminem’s high-pitched voice and profane lyrics were screaming out of every radio station and television music channel. Abid obsessed over the complex wordplay and rehearsed every verse to perfection. ‘I got two or three bootleg Eminem albums and would listen to them religiously, learn all the verses and then perform to myself,’ he says. ‘That was the real catalyst for me. I realised that for the ﬁrst time in my life, I'm actually good at something.’ Inspired by his loved ones back in Dhaka, Abid started to write his own songs. He says the contrast of his two very different worlds helps him write music with conviction, and speak from the heart. ‘It encourages me to share my story. The story of my people, the story of our hopes, dreams, and aspirations to the world’. Abid’s songwriting process begins with a beat. ‘I just let it play for ages in the background, absorbing it. The beat will make me feel a certain

F E AT U R E

type of way, and dictate the direction of the music sonically and lyrically.’ Once he has an idea he’ll do a draft recording of the vocals, just humming and freestyling the lyrics, to capture the correct flows, cadences, and melodies. ‘Once I'm happy with that I will physically put pen to paper and write the words that fit into the pocket of the beat.’ When the lyrics are finalised he records his vocals. ‘I wouldn't say I sing like Usher Raymond,’ Abid laughs, ‘but I definitely try to incorporate melodies in my raps and flows as it just helps switch things and make the music more appealing. I love to rap some solid bars and lyrics, and ultimately that's what I want to be known as.’ Abid describes the mixing and mastering process as lots of trial and error. ‘Making a song is a lot like sculpting with clay,’ he says, ‘you finetune it until it becomes a work of art.’ He does his own writing,

recording, mixing and mastering. The only thing he doesn’t do is make the beats. ‘I will work and collaborate with several beat makers online that are selling their beats through communities like SoundCloud, Reddit, and Youtube.’ While he’s already making money through streams and shows, Abid says he's not ready to tour. ‘You need to establish a really good fanbase before you can tour, otherwise no one will come to your shows.’ ‘I'm in this first stage trying to reach as many people as I can. You need to make really good music to cut through the sea of musicians. I'm trying to make as much quality music as I can to keep developing this fanbase of mine.’ Abid says performing alongside international fame has given him priceless experience. However, there’s a sense of connection and ‘togetherness’ that comes with playing small shows in his favourite city

F E AT U R E

in the world. ‘Nothing beats seeing your friends front row at a small, intimate rap gig somewhere off Cuba Street.’ Abid’s younger brother, who was born in New Zealand, also lives in Wellington and has been to every single Abrzy show since he turned 18. ‘My family are 100% supportive,’ says Abid. So how does Abrzy the rapper coexist with Abid the accountant? ‘I like accountancy, I actually really do,’ says Abid. ‘The skills I've gained at my job, like work ethic, organisation and concentration, translate effectively into my music. And any business relationships I form.’ Xero is very supportive of Abid – his work mates are fans and even his boss goes to his shows. ‘I'm not just a financial accountant,’ says Abid, ‘I think that's an important cog in the makeup of Abrzy.’ Abid spends every spare moment on his music, unless he’s studying for his chartered accountancy

qualification. ‘Humans are so incredible that there is no limit to your potential and understanding. Like, just because you do “this” doesn’t mean you can't do “that”. There’s always room in our minds to explore new things and learn. Anytime you undertake higher education it's never a bad thing.’ The dream is to make a comfortable living through his music, touring and streaming, but also to reach people; Abid says, ‘it's an incredible feeling knowing you can change someone’s life through music. Someone could be having a bad day but your music lifts them. That is definitely how it works for me. So it is my dream to have that effect on people.’ In the meantime, Abid’s plan is, ‘to be the best person I can be at Xero, while working on music every single day. And if you are consistent and work hard enough, doors will open which will lead to bigger things.’

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FA B R I C S FOR FRANCES April marks 150 years since the birth of artist Frances Hodgkins. To celebrate, fashion designer Kate Sylvester has put a contemporary spin on eight textile designs in Te Papa’s collections that date back to Hodgkins’ brief stint as a fabric designer. Claire Regnault, Te Papa’s Senior Curator New Zealand History & Culture, has written that this time of Hodgkins' life is often described in dismissive terms but letters show that Hodgkins ‘jumped at the chance at the time and in today’s terms could almost be described as a “fabricaholic”.’

WHAT ’S IN A NAME?

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Clothing store 27 Names has relocated to Ghuznee St. What number? 27 of course. Their new Autumn collection has just hit the hangers. It includes a pyjamainspired jacket called Becky which comes in a custom 70s floral print and looks super comfy. Our staff writer Francesca has her eye on a green classic wool coat with a long, fluted silhouette. It happens to be called the Francesca coat. It must be a sign.

Emily Jasmine uses merino off-cuts from her apparel company, Opus Fresh, to make tiny little hats for the premature babies in Wellington’s neonatal ward. She doesn’t have time to use all her scraps so has been running workshops to teach others to make the hats. Sleeping comfort studies from the University of Sydney and the University of Michigan show that babies that sleep in merino put on weight faster, sleep better, and cry and wake less than those wearing any other fabric.

Applications of Augmented Reality in design and retail are becoming more and more prevalent. For example, Bloomingdales ‘Virtual Dressing Room’ allows the customer to see themselves in pieces of clothing without trying them on. Now McKenzie & Willis Interiors has jumped on the bandwagon with an app called ‘McKenzie & Willis Design Space’. Customers can use it to determine whether a piece of furniture will suit their space, play with multiple fabric colours and window treatments, and save the final look to share for a second opinion.

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This is such a fun cushion cover. I’ve always been a sucker for the small mirror embroidery detail and this would look great on my armchair. Coconut tree cushion cover, $55, Trade Aid My goal for this year is to get some art for my walls. I love Alex Fulton’s colour combinations and abstracted shapes.

Pa i ge J ar man

aige is a Wellington ceramicist and interior enthusiast. Soon after graduating with a textile design degree in 2013 she gave pottery a whirl and, within a year, had her first order. From her home in Lower Hutt she creates handmade pieces inspired by shapes and patterns found in the natural environment. You can see her works at paigejarman.com

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The last thing I bought was... herb plants. Cooking is another creative outlet for me and I get to use my collection of pottery regularly.

We will have a new bathroom soon, fingers crossed, and natural furnishings like this towel rail will soften the cold new bathroom feel nicely. Moroccan towel rail, $259, Tea Pea Home

If I could raid anyone’s home it would be... Helen Frankenthaler. She was an American abstract artist who worked mostly in large scale oil paintings. She looks like such an interesting woman and from the few pictures I’ve seen, her home was full of an eclectic collection of art and furniture.

The favourite item in my home is... my new Keith Grinter blown glass tumblers which were a Christmas present.

I love the organic shape of the jug and interesting handle. Jochen Holz blown glass jug, $120, Everyday Needs

EDIBLES

Mush appreciation W R I T T E N BY S H A RO N G R E A L LY

‘Y

ou could get all spiritual about it and call it “fate”, but we prefer to see it as … a lean sprint.’ A what? North of Wellington, is a remote spot called Ohau. Where? you might ask. Ohau is tucked down a side road that you could easily miss off SH1. It is a gem of diverse landscape and semirural living. Sea and sky meet sand dunes. This is where former Kapiti coaster Brent Williams, and Jude Horrill have decided to call home, after 30 years abroad. They met in Australia four years ago. Both 'creatives and dreamers', according to Jude, they found they had a lot in common. They had both left New Zealand in 1987 to do the antipodean travel and work rite of passage, and both ended up living in Melbourne, working highlevel corporate jobs. But after 30 years away, they agreed they wanted a different life, back in New Zealand. In September 2017, they returned. Brent wanted to ‘get off the corporate bandwagon.’ He had been coming back to New Zealand regularly to see family. ‘The more we came back, the more we became more reaquainted with New Zealand culture. It was time for us to move home. Back to our whānau, our whakapapa. Originally we had thought we would hire a van and travel around to find a place to settle, to find a business, and see what was happening, especially around sustainability and permaculture. But around Christmas that year, I said to Jude “You know what? We're going to be mushroom farmers.”’

Jude didn’t bat an eyelid. ‘We realised we didn't need to travel around to find that idea. This was an idea we could build and grow off grid. Our first job back here was with a major global business, but we realised it made us miserable. I thought “no”, we really do need to take that next step’. And 'Mycobio' was their next iteration. Brent continues, ‘We had a vision that we could build an off-grid permaculture business and lifestyle on the Kapiti Coast within five years of arriving here. We've achieved that in less than 18 months of arriving. We started the business in March 2018, we leased commercial premises at Lindale with a goal to produce 50kgs of fresh mushrooms a week by December. And we did it.’ However, this year they realised they had outgrown Lindale. ‘We'd been looking for land since we'd arrived, but Kapiti prices were booming’, says Jude. They looked further north to Horowhenua, and found a private sale within two weeks. It ticked all the boxes. ‘We knew what we were looking for. We were ready. It also already had some of the off grid amenities we needed. This property allows us to consolidate our business’. The property was sand dunes when the vendors, a couple, bought the land 15 years ago. Now there are more than 600 trees, including natives, fruit and nut trees, and an olive grove. There are even two shady ponds, surrounded by beautiful leafy trees, all planted by the couple. There's also a rustic cabana, with a stunning view to the Tararuas in the distance.

EDIBLES

‘This was a passion sell. They didn't want to just sell it to anybody,’ says Jude. ‘We said “We love what you’ve done here and we will take it to the next step.”’ We are stewards of this land. We saw it on the Saturday and the deal was all done by Tuesday. Right time, right place, right buyers.’ Why mushrooms? ‘It's a niche product that there's huge demand for. I do a lot of research. A lot. I talked to friends and we started talking about the very interesting nature of fungi. It's probably the oldest living organism on land that we know of. It may even predate bacteria. Plus the more interesting conscious spiritual awakening of psychotropic-type stuff. Right from the beginning I said “We're not selling mushrooms – we’re selling an experience”.’ He explains the ‘modular’ nature of the business. ‘We have two shipping containers where we do the growing. We do it in different stages starting with tissue culture through to producing the fresh product. We’re growing Oyster mushrooms, Phoenix, and Shiitake. Grown in 10kg sawdust bags, it takes 10 days to innoculate within the bag. They then fruit, and four days later are edible. And it’s a year round operation – indoors. At the weekend market, a teacher bought two bags to show the children in class, and they watched the changes. Most kids don’t

know where their food comes from.’ The pair sell direct to the markets at Paraparaumu Beach and Harbourside in Wellington. It's very much grass roots. ‘Part of our brand is about being minimal. We don't have business cards, just stamped pieces of brown paper.’ Apart from being a nutritional wonder food, gourmet mushrooms are highly sustainable to grow. They require no pesticides or chemicals, little water, and little space, and use waste products like cardboard or used coffee grounds. They also have medicinal properties, containing antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. ‘Vertical farming can be done anywhere – even in urban areas. We could just as easily be growing this business and developing it in the inner city, or the waterfront in Wellington,’ says Brent. ‘We don't require any farming land. The whole idea of this off-grid thing is more for the lifestyle, and we built this business to support that lifestyle. We want to build community, to teach people skills about sustainability, to be able to share what we have and learn from each other.’ ‘We see ourselves as early adopters of a growing trend, and helping people turn ideas into businesses’, says Jude. ‘ We've put a lot of time, thought and planning into this business.’ That's the 'Lean Sprint'.

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EDIBLES

GOOD B I T C H E S TA L K Two Wellington friends originally set up the charity Good Bitches Baking, which has rapidy grown now having 20 chapters nationwide including one each in Kapiti, Wairarapa and Wellington. GBB make cake and biscuits to give to those in unfortunate circumstances. They have organised a fundraising debate with a celebrity panel; the moot is whether or not manaakitanga (kindness) should be the measure of our national success. Mayor Justin Lester and journalist Heather Du Plessis are among those on the panel. Thursday 11 April, 6pm at Old St Paul’s.

HAPI HOPS

TIME FOR TEA

YOU'RE A FUN-GI

Local brewers Garage Project are behind Hāpi 2019. Hāpi, a beer festival and symposium, will take place at Te Papa on Saturday 6 April. More than 15 international breweries are making their way to Wellington to pour their beers for us, among them big names such as Stone Brewing from the USA and Cloudwater from London. Tickets are $75 each, and include a custom Hāpi glass and $20 worth of spending loaded onto your ticket.

As days get shorter and the weather gets colder tea drinking probably increases. The Wellington Apothecary has released a tea blend called Adaptogen. It is a blend of holy basil (not ordinary basil), lime blossom, lavender, brahmi (herb used in traditional Indian medicine) and liquorice root. They suggest this tea should boost immunity, aid relaxation, restore energy and promote mental clarity. All of Wellington Apothecary’s packaging is compostable or recyclable and you can take old containers in for refills.

A fungi walk is one of the ways the Wellington Botanic Garden is celebrating its 150 years. A guided walk in OtariWilton's Bush is intended to provide a basic understanding of the enormous kingdom of fungi and where to find local examples. The walk is on Sunday 28 April 28, 2pm. For more information go to the Wellington Garden’s website.

EDIBLES

HOP IN TO S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y The Hopper Home Eco shop, on Hopper St in Mt Cook, is all about reducing waste. Every Friday and Saturday Francine or Susanna collects leftover bread from Arobake and they re-sell it at reduced prices ($2.00 per baguette, for example). In store they sell natural cleaning products from Wellington company Figgy & Co, coffee scrub from Supreme and bulk toiletries. In April they are hosting sustainability events focussing on textiles, including repair workshops and a clothes swap event.

CLASSY GLASS

SPIN FOR GIN

ART FOR ALL

New glass bottles are being used for the two new releases coming this month from local brewery Sprig and Fern. The new 888ml glass bottles are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic riggers. The new beers are Dry Hopped Pilsner and West Coast IPA. Sprig & Fern’s packaging was created by Inject Design, owned by Wellington local Harry A’Court (see p 20).

The number of gin distilleries in New Zealand and the world is multiplying rapidly. The Hudson, on the corner of Chews Lane and Victoria Street, has found a novel way to jump on this hype train. They have a wheel with 14 different named gin slots on it. If you aren’t sure which gin you’d prefer, spin the wheel and have whatever it lands on. The wheel features premium gins such as Lighthouse (Wairarapa), Monkey 47 (Germany) and Beefeater 24 (England). You still have to pay for your prize, however, at $12 per gin.

The Arborist is to host our next crop of budding artistic talent on 10 and 17 April. In collaboration with Paint and Vine they have organised art classes with talented artists helping the students paint a copy of a famous painting, which you get to keep. On 10 April is Christopher Perkins’ Taranaki and on 17 April it’s cult figure Bob Ross’ Snowy Mountains. Each ticket comes with a complimentary drink. Numbers are strictly limited.

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S H E A R E R S ' TA B L E

Spanish roast duckling with harissa potatoes BY N I K K I & J O R DA N S H E A R E R

any of us are familiar with the New Zealand tradition of the ‘roast dinner’, usually reserved for occasions when all the whānau get together. Whole chickens, a slowroasted lamb leg or crispy skinned pork usually feature. This month we decided to mix it up and challenge the tradition, turning to Spanish cuisine for inspiration – think smokey spices, sweet raisins and bitter chocolate! Along with the unique food flavours of Spain, their fortified wine, or sherry, is also making a resurgence as

INGREDIENTS

1 size 18 duckling, skin dried with a paper towel 1 Tbsp grated nutmeg 1 Tbsp smoked paprika ½ tsp ground cloves 1 tsp flakey sea salt 1 lemon, cut in half 3 sprigs fresh rosemary olive oil 6 shallots, peeled and finely sliced 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 1 cup Pedro Ximenez sherry cinnamon stick 2 cups unsalted chicken stock 4–6 large agria potatoes, peeled and chopped into cubes 2 Tbsp harissa paste 2 Tbsp duck fat 4 Tbsp ground semolina finely chopped rosemary salt 50g bitter dark chocolate

an alternative to wine and the sweetest of them all is the gorgeous Pedro Ximenez sherry. We have used this as the base to our sauce, adding a depth of flavour that no other liquor could offer. Duck can be purchased from Moore Wilson’s or online at Canter Valley. We used a size 18 duckling. To obtain a crispy skin, turn the temperature up to 220 degrees for the last 15 minutes of cooking time – no longer or you will dry the meat. Serves 2–4

METHOD

1. 2.

Preheat oven to 170°C. Mix nutmeg, paprika, ground cloves and sea salt together and rub generously over the duck. 3. In a large frypan, add 1Tbsp oil and sear the duck for 3 minutes each side until it starts to colour. Remove from heat and place the lemon and rosemary in the cavity. Place in a roasting dish. 4. In the same pan sauté the shallots and garlic for 2 minutes. Pour in the sherry to deglaze pan. Add the stock and cinnamon stick. Simmer for 5 minutes. Pour over the duck. 5. Cover and bake for 2 ½ hours (45 minutes per kg). 6. Increase temperature to 220°C and bake for a further 15 minutes uncovered. Remove from oven. 7. While the duck is cooking parboil the potatoes. This will not take long, as you want them to be still firm. Drain and cool. 8. In a large bowl add the harissa, melted duck fat, semolina, rosemary and salt. Mix through the cool potatoes, coating all surfaces. 9. Lay potatoes out on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Place in the oven after the duck has been cooking for 2 hours. Continue to roast when the temperature has been increased, turning once. 10. Remove duck from the liquor, cover with tinfoil and rest. While the duck is resting the potatoes will get crispy and golden at the higher temperature. 11. Simmer the cooking liquor over a medium heat until reduced by half. Sieve and whisk in the chocolate. Keep warm until serving. 12. We served this with roasted almonds and a kale, nectarine and pecorino salad.

F EN RE TR E Y

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ONLINE GAMING Darusha Wehm (Cap #29) flies to LA in May as a nominee for a Nebula Award. Held by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the ‘Nebulas’ are basically the Oscars of sci-fi writing. Darusha’s latest book The Martian Job is one of five finalists for the Game Writing award; think a cross between an e-book and a computer game, where the reader chooses different options and paths. Darusha is excited. ‘Interactive fiction and games are exploding as narrative forms in science fiction and fantasy.'

WHO KNEW?

PIP’S TRIP

10 OUT OF 10

More than 100,000 New Zealanders served in WWI under our own flag. But as many as 12,000 other New Zealanders fought under eight other imperial flags (including the Sri-Lankan one, in the case of the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps), staffed medical organisations or organised entertainment for troops. Massey University War Studies Professor Glyn Harper tells the story of military heroes, medical pioneers and even a singer with For King and Other Countries (MUP), out 7 April.

Wellington author/historian Pip Desmond (pictured) has driven to Palmerston North to spend 12 weeks as the Visiting Artist at Massey University’s School of English and Media Studies and the Square Edge Community Arts centre. She’s writing a book about the true story of a family whose 21-year-old son died in a mental-health unit. Pip’s book about her mother’s dementia, Song for Rosaleen, was longlisted for the 2019 Ockham NZ Book Awards.

Cat Connor, co-founder of the Writers Plot Bookshop in Upper Hutt, has written 10 crime thrillers in 10 years. ‘My Byte series are published mostly as e-books but Writers Plot stocks paperbacks,’ Cat says. The latest volume in the series, Qubyte, sees FBI agent/new mum Ellie investigating a suspicious ‘accident’ during a lethal flu season. South African Rebel ePublishers closed recently, so Cat and other ex-Rebel authors have set up new publisher, 9mm Press.

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SEB CY T I TOHNE HBEOAODKE R

Re-verse I N T R O D U C E D BY C H R I S T S E

About the poet Alison Wong was born in the Hawke’s Bay. Her first collection of poetry, Cup, was published in 2006, and was shortlisted for Best First Book of Poetry at the 2007 Montana New Zealand Book Awards. Alison’s acclaimed novel As The Earth Turns Silver (Penguin, 2009) won the Fiction Award at the 2010 New Zealand Post Book Awards. It was also shortlisted for an Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Award.

ONE HUNDRED POUNDS

for Wong Wei Jung, Wellington 1914

There is no photograph of the father of the father of my father only one taken from the ancestral home by a man not related. I imagine him (inside a cardboard box, lost in the tenements of modern Canton) shot in pure black and white, and perhaps aged the colour of old blood, and wonder did he have hair that swung across his back in the style of Manchurian subjection, or was it cut short and covered by a trilby? Ah, there is nothing to see, only brazen black letters on aged white paper: a notice of Murder from the Minister of Justice the reward as great as the poll tax.

In brief The poem’s title refers to the historical poll tax payable by Chinese migrants upon arrival in New Zealand (the only ethnic group subjected to this tax). A revelation in the closing lines takes the title in a more shocking direction: the poem’s subject is revealed to be a murder victim and the titular £100 is a reward for information. In her author’s notes, Alison explains that her paternal great grandfather (to whom the poem is dedicated) was violently murdered in his fruit shop on Adelaide Road in 1914. After pressure from the Chinese community and Consulate, the Minister of Justice offered a reward for information from the public that might lead to apprehending the murderer; but the case was never solved. Why read it Cup was the first poetry collection I read that reflected the experiences of a Chinese New Zealand writer. It’s a landmark book, which contains poems about family, love and parenting amongst others that look to the past and New Zealand’s mistreatment of Chinese settlers. In both this book and her novel As The Earth Turns Silver, Alison strives for a genuine representation of both past and present-day Chinese New Zealanders.

By Alison Wong from Cup (Steele Roberts, 2006)

Why I like it In this quietly searching poem, Alison asks us to question the value of a life, and the artefacts and events that end up defining it. The poem also captures the frustrations and fragmentation of unearthing our own family histories – what can we pass on to future generations when there is little left in the way of records and photographs? It’s a poem that contains many layers of historical context, delivered with devastating emotional impact.

HOME

Offcuts and seconds P H OTO G R A P H E D BY E L I Z A B E T H G O O DA L L & SIMON DEVITT

Ross Stevens takes rejected items and gives them new life in the eclectic home he is building on a windswept Wairarapa ridgeline. He talks to Sarah Catherall about his projects.

nternationally renowned for the container house he built in Happy Valley, a stone’s throw from the Wellington landfill, the industrial designer is now slowly building a new home on a sprawling four acre-site in South Featherston. Ross and his German wife, Petra Alsbach-Stevens, bought the section in 1995, and he began building on it 13 years ago. The industrial design icon and design futurist camped on the site in an old railway cottage, spending three months constructing two buildings − a design studio and living area, and sleeping wing − with his father. The buildings sit high on a hill, with sweeping views across the Western Lake and Palliser Bay in one direction, and Lake Pounui (owned by film maker James Cameron) in the other. About half the property is covered in protected native bush. It can be an unforgiving environment, as the house is frequently battered by brutal winds. The exterior of the main shadowclad plywood and glass building boasts recycled macrocarpa slabs leaning inwards, like trees protecting its inhabitants

inside. Ross deliberately chose materials that have had a previous life, turning up to construction businesses asking for their rejects − offcuts, mistakes and seconds. Steel and Tube gave him sheets of rusting steel with circle cut-outs which it rejected; they now resemble oxidising sculptures sticking out of the house. The house is insulated with 200ml polystyrene panels once part of an old coolstore. ‘I was taking my students for a trip out to Seaview and I hadn’t been able to figure out how to make a house and what the base material would be. I had loved the container house, and I saw this mountain of poly panels in Seaview. I said, “Stop the bus”. My students thought I was mad.’ He has half the panels left, which will form the basis of a new building he is about to begin constructing with his 18-year-old son, Finn. A senior lecturer in future studies and 3D printing at Victoria University School of Design, Ross is driven to this style of design because it’s cheaper to build, better for the environment, and he likes materials and objects that are

HOME

weathered and worn. ‘I love things with stains, metals showing rust, buildings with cobwebs on them. I like things with a history,’ he says. ‘The backstory is actually more important. Most people are starting to realise we just can’t keep biffing everything too.’ Working for Philippe Starck in Paris for two years in the early 1990s, Ross is also something of a design rebel, challenging Kiwi ideals about homes and the way we live. The hallway to the bedroom wing and also the living room are painted black. ‘I got told you can’t have a black room. I thought, “Really? Now I’m definitely going to have a black room,”’ he laughs. The living space is reminscent of a formal living room, with pops of futuristic design. A mix of old and new, it includes Petra’s inherited German furniture and family heirlooms near Ross’ laser-cut black wall panels. ‘I’m trying to use digital tools to make a traditional room. I think people have misunderstood what decoration is about.’ Ross found Italian marble tiles online and laid them in the window sills and near the fake fireplace. The power systems running around the edge of the room came out of a foreign exchange bank. ‘The guy was made redundant and he was pissed off with his package so he literally stripped the building of its wiring and flogged it off,’ Ross laughs.

‘All the wiring I can get to. I don’t like putting services inside stuff. I want to get at it and have a play with it.’ The room’s ceiling is a futuristic nod to the traditional pressed tin ceiling. Ross made a 3D map of the Wairarapa terrain out of vacuumformed plastic − a packaging material for chocolates − and turned it into ceiling panels. ‘I figured that one thing that will never change out here is the lake and the house’s relationship to it.’ In the master bedroom off the dark hallway, he made the stunning rimu-panelled walls out of rejected door skins, which glow a honey yellow in the dim downlights. Ross says: ‘I have a real issue with paint. There is a blandness to it. I prefer things that have more complex colours and tones.’ The designer even built the dressing table out of old Formway desks. The bedroom wing deliberately has just a few skinny windows, so the family can hunker down inside rather than trying to embrace the outdoors. The living room also focuses inwards, blocking out views which could be stunning on a good day. Again this is Ross making a design statement, while also being brutally practical in recognising that his house is typically exposed to the elements. He argues that many Kiwi homes aren’t built to cope with our extreme environments.

HOME

‘The New Zealand tradition of having indoor-outdoor flow, I just wanted to slaughter that. You’re outside and I’m inside and that’s the way it’s going to be.’ Daughter Kara’s bedroom features a laser cut ceiling made by her father − this time, the pattern resembles a daisy pattern. ‘It was such a simple sounding idea when I thought it up, but it actually was far harder to achieve,’ he laughs. To get between the buildings, the family walk through a sheltered internal courtyard. Along with a vegetable garden, it houses Ross’s spa pool, which is powered by wind turbines on the roof. Each morning, he sits in the spa pool, thinking and processing work and life. Before he does this, though, he listens to his stereo for 45 minutes. Also an audio designer, his products have earned him an international reputation, with a client list that includes B&W, Perreaux, Plinius and Pureaudio. Petra, a writer, also likes to make things and while her husband embraces the latest technology − he recently lectured in Japan about 4D and talks a lot about artificial intel-

ligence − she is drawn to traditional crafts like sewing and embroidery. Like her husband, she also upcycles: in the design studio off the kitchen, a dozen bags she made out of discarded jeans and jackets hang off a coat rack. An embroidered orange doily, made by Petra for Ross’ birthday, has become one of his treasures. Says Ross: ‘These old ideas I think are really interesting. It’s made, which for me is special.’ It’s a remote way to live, especially with two teenagers. However, while he likes Wellington and particularly Cuba Street, the designer says: ‘I need quiet to be reflective. I like being away and then I like being right in the thick of it.’ The week Capital visited, Ross was preparing for the arrival of the concrete truck and the next chapter in his home-making journey. Pointing to the frame of building number three, Ross says: ‘Building this way just takes time. And time is one thing that a lot of people don’t have and a lot of people don’t protect.’ ‘Our home was literally put together by my hands, and I think that makes a difference for my family.’

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BUG ME

Wētā Name: Wellington tree wētā Māori name: Wētā, or more specifically for tree wētā: pūtangatanga Scientific name: Hemideina crassidens Status: Endemic Description: There are more than 70 species of wētā in New Zealand, of which seven make up the group tree wētā (there are also cave, giant, tusked and ground wētā). Tree wētā are usually up to 40mm in length, though they can grow as large as 70mm (the giant wētā grows much bigger − up to 100mm long and generally about 35g, though females weighing around 70g have been found). The female has a long ovipositor (egg-laying tube) that looks like a stinger at the end of her body. Habitat: Tree wētā are found all over New Zealand including offshore islands, with the Wellington tree wētā found in the southern half of the North Island and the northwest of the South Island. They are the most common wētā found in gardens and bushes, and usually live in holes in trees formed by moth larvae. You can make your own

version of this (a ‘wētā motel’) and keep them in your garden as pets. Look/listen: Wētā are nocturnal, feeding, breeding, fighting and laying their eggs at night. This is when you can hear them communicating via stridulation − scraping pegs on their hind legs over ridges on the sides of their body, producing a chirruping sound (crickets and other insects also do this). Tell me a story: The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, Te Ara, outlines some of the many insect-related Māori creation stories, including those about rival brothers Tāne (god of the forest) and Whiro (god of the underworld). In a series of stories from the Wairarapa region, Whiro sends a war party of insects after Tāne, in an effort to obtain the three baskets of sacred knowledge from the heavens. His mission fails and the baskets become Tāne’s. Whiro goes after him again and Tāne defeats him a second time, this time capturing Whiro’s army of birds and insects − including wētā − and taking them prisoner. They have remained in his domain, the forests, from there on in.

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FIRST AND FOREMOST Former Wellington Blaze Cricket Coach Mark Borthwick (pictured) is the coach for the inaugural New Zealand Māori Secondary School Cricket Team. New Zealand Cricket Participation Advisor, Andrew Tara, says the introduction of the team is to connect better with Māori and make the game more accessible to under-represented communities. Among the players is Ryan Jackson from St Patrick’s College who identifies with the Ngā Māhanga a Tāiri iwi of Taranaki. Their first match was last month in Karori against a Governor General’s XI which included former international cricketer Hamish Marshall.

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If you’ve always wanted to enter a running event but you weren’t sure which one, try out the Greatest Virtual Run for Autism. Just like an ordinary run, you choose when you head out and how long you go for. All funds raised go to the Running on the Spectrum charity, which provides school support, running programmes, and running shoes for children on the spectrum. The event takes place from 19 to 22 April and is open to individuals, families, or work groups. To register go to greatestvirtualrunnz.com

The son of New Zealand’s fastest man is giving his old man a run for his money. Edward Osei-Nketia, 17, ran 100m in 10.30 seconds in January, making him the fastest schoolboy in the country. His knack for the sport clearly comes from his father Gus Nketia who set a New Zealand record for 100m, running 10.11 at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. New to Wellington, Edward was offered a scholarship by Scots College following his outstanding performance at the Capital Classic in January.

Back by popular demand, the Wellington Phoenix are hosting more free community coaching clinics in Tawa and Lower Hutt this month. Courtesy of Lloyd Morrison Charitable Trust, the organisation hosted four clinics over the summer, offering free coaching in low-decile schools for children aged 7–12. The clinics involved drills, and games coached by Wellington Phoenix Academy players.

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WĀ H I N E

U n a va i l a b l e juggling BY M E LO DY T H O M A S

ecently I interviewed a couple who were newly separated. They’re still good friends and their love for each other is palpable, but for a bunch of reasons the romantic part of their relationship is over. As they talked about the struggles they faced in their 20+ years together, the woman confided that she didn’t feel she’d gotten the juggle of career and family right – that she had regrets about working too much and not getting to be the mother she wanted to be. It was especially hard to hear because in her anguish and regret, I saw myself reflected. I love my kids and I love my job. Actually scratch that − I love my kids better because I love my job. I tried being a stay-at-home Mum and it was terrible for everyone involved − I was bored, frustrated, resentful. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore being a parent, but for me, and I imagine many others, this comes with a caveat – ‘so long as I get breaks’. I still remember my first day back at work, sitting down with a cup of tea, crying with happiness because the tea was hot, I had no-one hanging off me, and I was being paid. By the end of the day I missed the kids so much I ran home from the bus stop. The next morning I ran back to the bus stop ecstatic to be reclaiming an important part of my identity. And for a while we had the balance right − both working part time, both parenting the rest of the time, pretty broke but really happy. Somewhere along the way we lost that balance. My work crept from 20 to 30 hours; as a freelancer I would find myself grabbing moments wherever I could − an hour here or there to finish up an article. Without even realising it’d happened, my work bled into the weekends. Suddenly there wasn't a day when I actually turned off my work brain and got to just

be with my family. Cracks started to show − the kids would play up when I got back from work as a way of getting my attention, my husband and I became ships in the night just talking to deliver instructions for what the kids needed next. We got stuck in the motions. Then I was given an amazing opportunity to go to New York and learn from some of the best women in my business. It meant two weeks away from my family, and while it was incredibly difficult being gone so long, I was given a chance to step outside of our situation and get some perspective. I saw how our weekends had been sucked into the vortex of work. How our kids were missing out. I also came to understand, from watching powerful, competent and much-admired women delivering talks in their 40s, 50s and 60s, that careers are long. Yes, it’s really hard to say no to a good opportunity, but there will be more, and sometimes saying no to something you ‘should' do opens up space for stuff you really want to do − whether that’s another, better project, or just a sleep in. Maybe there isn’t room to budge in your job. People are struggling to make ends meet and many have no choice but to work every spare hour. But maybe, like me, you have a little more room than you think. Enough to tell your boss that you won’t be answering texts and calls after hours anymore (or if YOU are the boss, telling your employees not to email or text outside work hours unless its urgent − so they can enjoy their time off, too). Enough to reclaim your weekend, or just part of it, for you and the people you love. By now we should all be pretty clear on the fact that women and mothers can do anything, but no one person can do everything.

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W E L LY A NG E L

W h a t wo u l d D e i r d r e d o? TWO FACE

go sometimes! One of my grandson’s ‘most special treats’ is mango – so chocolate does have alternatives. Hard to get past jelly though! Have fun.

My friend has had a very good facelift, told me about it in confidence, but I recently overheard her denying any interest in ever having any kind of surgery, and she expects me to back her up. I don’t mind what she does but don’t see that I should be expected to be dishonest. What do you think? Not judging, Miramar

FAMILY TIES A relative of mine has dementia and is in a home. Said relative was never very nice to any of the immediate family. And some have declined to ever visit. That seems to be reasonable to me, given the nasty family histories. Why then am I hearing a flurry of criticism directed at the family members who do not visit? Mediator, Lower Hutt

Tricky and probably very transparent to her friends! Let her say whatever she feels she needs to but you certainly don’t need to lie. Avoid being part of this dialogue. You will develop great diversionary abilities and become adept at changing the subject. Good luck!

This does not seem to be a question, unless you want approval? Dementia is tough and so hard for those who care, and surely a bit of compassion would not go amiss? Let bygones be bygones and go visit. Sooner rather than later.

SUGAR HIGH I bought chocolate for my 10-year-old nephew when I took him to the movies. His mother ripped up at me and said ‘You know I don’t let him have sugar’. I said if he’s with me I’ll buy whatever treats I wish, as long as they are safe. You can imagine the rest. Who is right? Best aunty, Kelburn

READY TO MINGLE How do I help my cousin find a girlfriend? He is kind, nice, intelligent, funny, shy and a bit nerdy. And I know he would like to find a partner. Cupid, Tawa

The no-sugar efforts of parents today are to be commended and there are lots of treats you can still provide. I am a bit on both sides on this as I have grandchildren and their parents to consider. Respect their views but, yes, part of a grandparent’s prerogative is to spoil a little. So be aware and tell his parents what you plan, but you can let the rules

You do not mention either your, nor his, age; but on principle, butt out − he sounds perfectly capable and will sort it out for himself. Relax.

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JOIN IN THE DANCE To mark UNESCOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global celebration of International Dance Day, YouthDance Education Trust is putting on a day of free dance workshops and performances. Head down to Te Papa on Sunday 28 April and learn a new dance. With nine workshops to choose from there is something for all ages and abilities, from Hawaiian dance to Hip Hop, Scottish Ceilidh to Samoan Sasa. The day closes with a performance on the marae by local groups reflecting the rich diversity of dance in Wellington. Bring the whole family for a great day out on the last day of the school holidays.

April S

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NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2019

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FRI 10 MAY MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE

April BRRROOM BRRROOM Transport-focused exhibition for children. Expressions Whirinaki, Upper Hutt, until 28 April EDITH AND GEORGE: IN OUR SEA OF ISLANDS NZ Portrait Gallery, Queens Wharf, until 26 May

Solway Showgrounds, Masterton, from 3pm

AFTER HOURS: BOB ROSS PAINTING 'Wet on wet' workshop. Wellington Museum, 7.30, $25 includes materials

YURI’S NIGHT A party in honour of the first person in space. Space Place at the Carter Observatory, 8.30pm

APRIL FOOL’S DAY STARGAZING 101 Every Monday night for five weeks.

THE WELLINGTON PUN BATTLE CHAMPIONSHIPS The Fringe Bar, 8pm

Space Place at Carter Observatory, 7pm

5 NIGHT NOODLE MARKETS Asian pop-up market. Basin Reserve, 5–14 April, from 4pm GHOSTS, FLOATING Art by Briana Jamieson. Toi Pōneke Gallery, until 27 April

6 Waitangi Park, 10am EDIBLE WEEDS AND FLOWERS EVA ROTHSCHILD: KOSMOS City Gallery Wellington, until 28 July

EASTER SUNDAY

Family day out, markets, cars and treats. Southward Car Museum, Paraparaumu, 10am WELLINGTON PHOENIX VS MELBOURNE CITY FC Westpac Stadium, 7pm kick off

25 ANZAC DAY

The BeatGirls perform songs from the 30s and 40s.

ARMAGEDDON Pop culture event. Westpac Stadium, 13–15 April

DON’T STOP ME NOW! Wellington Community Choir sings Queen. Salvation Army Citadel, 7.30pm

Nairn St Cottage, 10am

Hot air balloons light up the night sky. Plus food, music and entertainers.

SILENT DISCO ADVENTURE TOUR From TSB Arena to Te Papa, 8pm

PODIUM SERIES – ENIGMA Brahms, Strauss and Elgar performed by the NZSO. Michael Fowler Centre, 7.30pm

THE BIG DOG WALK

TRUST HOUSE NIGHT GLOW

SOUTHWARD EASTER HUNT

IN THE MOOD Southward Theatre, Paraparaumu, 2pm

INTERNATIONAL DANCE WEEK Various events, 27 April – 5 May HURRICANES V CHIEFS Westpac Stadium, 7.35pm kick off

29 ORGANIC WEEK 29 April – 5 May

SMALL BUSINESS FORUM Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lower Hutt, 5.30pm

DAYLIGHT SAVING FINISHES

8 NASHVILLE LIVE Country music performance in the style of a live radio broadcast. Opera House, 7pm

ALESSIO BAX Italian themed programme performed by pianist Alessio Bax. Expressions Whirinaki, Upper Hutt, 7.30pm

May

GOOD FRIDAY LEVEL UP @ NZ GAMES FESTIVAL Flux at Wellington Museum, 19–27 April

The New Zealand Dance Company.

KISS THE SKY Opera House, 7.30pm

YO U R D R E A M C O M E T R U E

Walk down the aisle at Wellington’s Old St Paul’s www.heritage.org.nz

GROUPIES

Un s un g h e roes W R I TT E N BY L E I L A N I BA K E R P H OTO G R A P H BY SA N N E VA N G I N K E L

nstead of spending their Saturday nights at bars or at home watching the rugby, these groupies huddle into a car and patrol Wellington streets until the early hours of the morning. April marks the ninth year the South Wellington Community Patrol Group have volunteered their weekends to be eyes and ears for local police. Along with Local Hosts and CCTV Camera Volunteers, Community Patrollers attend police briefings at the beginning of their four to six-hour night shift. Then they hit the road, circling from Brooklyn to Seatoun watching for antisocial behaviour or damage to property. ‘We’ve seen a couple of drunk drivers brought to official notice, and have helped calm traffic at motor accidents before authorities arrived,’ says coordinator Peter Cooke. The group has had over 50 volunteers since it began and currently has 18 active volunteers. They include a retiree, an IT lecturer, and a future police recruit.

‘We’ve had several men and women come through our ranks and join the police. One is now a sergeant in Wanaka,’ says Cooke. Having two children himself, Cooke says patrolling the streets on weekends and seeing youngsters in trouble really hits home. The South Wellington Community Patrollers won the Safety in the Community Award from the Wellington City Council for the second time last year. Sarjeant Hamish Blackburn, Officer in Charge of Kilbirnie Community Policing Centre, says the patrol group has recently helped with car thefts in Hataitai and at the end of each shift presents detailed reports which are useful for monitoring crime. ‘I have no doubt their visible presence in the community has directly prevented crime from occurring. Their contribution directly aligns with the New Zealand Police Prevention First strategy,’ he says.

Tom, Catherine, Peter, and Rick

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